Insider on the Canucks re-signing Bo Horvat: ''That ship has kinda sailed.''

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Dorin Canaday
November 23, 2022 (6:47)

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Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat is off to arguably the best start in his NHL career, with 15 goals and six assists through 19 games.

However, NHL insider Frank Seravalli shared that Jim Rutherford is using the captain's hot start as a way to receive higher bids from interested teams.

As per Seravalli:

''The better he plays, the better return we can get for him,'' Rutherford told Sportsnet 650 earlier this month.''

Seravalli also noted that several teams are heavily interested in acquiring a centre like Horvat, such as the Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. Horvat currently sits atop Daily Faceoff's ''Trade Bait'' board:

''Scoop: Communication has been scarce between the Canucks and Horvat's camp, with the belief that contract talks broke off before training camp and have not resumed. Canucks president Jim Rutherford alluded to the idea that Horvat's sizzling start means the captain could be the catalyst for core reconstruction.''

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman also weighed in on the Horvat and Canucks situation. Stating that the club is in the same position they were in with J.T. Miller, who was at the forefront of trade rumours but ultimately signed a max-term deal.

''Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has indicated he's in no rush to decide what he's going to do with Bo Horvat. Vancouver pulled an about-face with J.T. Miller, so I always assume that can happen here, too. We'll see. I believe the Canucks have talked to some potential coaches, but not sure there's a timeline to make a move.''